Bar Code Tracks
Maintenance And Repair
A New York curtain and drapery manufacturer has realized significant
maintenance savings by using portable data collection terminals
to record work as it is performed. Customized software running on
a PC lets the company track maintenance and repair for machines
in its cut and sew departments. The terminals use integrated laser
scanners to read bar code labels identifying machines, pans, and
specific maintenance operations. The computer tracks time, costs,
and other information that helps the Louis Hornick Co. of Haverstraw,
NY, identify possible problems and opportunities for cost savings.
Integrated Bar Code Systems, Totowa, NJ, designed and implemented
the system based on input from the manufacturer's information
systems management group. Screen prompts on the Compsee Apex II
handheld portable data terminal aid technicians in scanning the
appropriate asset tracking bar code labels to record maintenance
for each machine.
Maintenance technicians enter their identification number and
password then scan the identification bar code on the machine.
A bar code repair manual contains labels representing the start
of the repair, about 15 standard maintenance solutions, and replacement
parts.
As the technician completes each step, he scans the appropriate
bar code. When the operation is complete, the technician scans
a stop-work label and the program automatically records the elapsed
time as well as all work performed and materials used.
At the end of the shift, the data stored in the Apex II portable
terminal is uploaded to the personal computer. The data can be
accessed in report form by machine, problem, solution, parts used,
repair mechanic, or date.
Manny Valvo, technical services manager, reports that with more
data, the manufacturing services department has been able to improve
maintenance operations. "We've been able to identify repetitive
problems. Now, when we see we're changing conveyor belts every
week on a certain machine, we know look to see if some pulleys
are out of line." With such information, the department has been
able to better track and reduce mean time between failure and
mean time to repair.
Reprinted from:
Maintenance Technology Resource Guide
July/ August 1998
